The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained an interim court order from the Special Tribunal to stop the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) from processing about R3.3 million in pension benefits for Matilda Matozi Gasela, the former HOD at the Gauteng department of Agriculture, rural development and land reform.
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The order, granted on 15 May 2025, also restrains Gasela from accessing or claiming these funds pending the finalization of the legal proceedings. Gasela assumed office as HOD on 01 December 2018 and is alleged to have played a pivotal role in the mismanagement of a contract involving Enviro Mobi (Pty) Ltd (later known as Groen Mintirho). Despite the company’s failure to deliver the required vehicles, she authorized further payments and approved a settlement of R6,499,712.64 for purported “storage costs” – an expense not stipulated in the original contract. Senior counsel is said to have explicitly advised against this payment, which was later declared to be a fruitless and wasteful expenditure. The SIU said her actions allegedly contravened the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and contributed to the depletion of public funds, as the SIU contends, in what it describes as a fraudulent scheme.
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In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU referred this matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) after finding evidence of criminal conduct, specifically gross violations of the Public Finance Management Act. The NPA was furnished with this evidence to consider pursuing criminal charges, including fraud, corruption, and maladministration, against the accused.
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In October 2024, Gasela and her co-accused were arrested. Her co-accused includes: Loyiso Mkwana, Chief Director of Sustainable Use of Environment at GDARD, who also served as the Bid Evaluation Committee Chairperson. Thandeka Mbassa- former Head of the Department at GDARD – left GDARD in August 2018. Abdullah Mohamed Ismail is a former chief financial officer at GDARD and chairperson of the bid adjudication committee. MMatlhekelo Elsie Mabe- Director of Mvest trading (Pty) ltd. Tinyiko Mahuntsi- Director of Enviro Mobi. Puleng Peter Mabe- former Director of Enviro Mobi and a former member of Parliament. Gasela, the accused appeared before the Palmridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, Johannesburg. They were implicated in the unlawful procurement and financial mismanagement related to the R33 million contracts awarded to Enviro Mobi by the GDARD and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM).
